How is the information received?

The Right to Information Act was enacted by the Parliament on 15 June 2015. The act gives the power to every citizen of the country to request and get information from any public authority. They are bound by the act to reply and furnish the information within 30 days of application request. Political parties and private bodies do not come under the purview of the act.

The information regarding state security, science, and economic affairs, confidential information from abroad, information on border security forces and other sensitive details cannot be obtained.

The first appeal for getting the information may be made to the officials in the Panchayats, Municipalities, Secretariat and other government departments within 30 days of getting information from the concerned Information Officer. If the information is not furnished within the first 30 days, the concerned applicant may make a second appeal to the State Information Commission.

The following are the information officers that have to be contacted for retrieving the information:

• Gram Panchayat- Secretary

• Panchayat Samithi- Development Officer

• Zila Parishad- Chief Executive Officer

• Municipality- Executive Officer

• State Government organisations- Chief Executive Officer

• University- Chancellor

• Government departments- Senior most officer under the Head of the Department

• Secretariat- Secretary, Department of Revenue

The act was passed to empower the citizens and promote transparency and accountability in the working of the government. This helps to check corruption and other malpractices in the functioning of the government and the judicial system.